Popovich wants ‘bear-hunting’ Ginobili to return

San Antonio Spurs guard Manu Ginobili (20) celebrates with teammate guard Dejounte Murray (5) after making a basket late in second half action of Game 4 against the Golden State Warriors, Sunday April 22, 2018 at the AT&T Center. The Spurs won 103-90.

Photo: Edward A. Ornelas, Staff / San Antonio Express-News

Tony Parker is gone. Ditto for Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green.

Will Manu Ginobili be next? Not if Spurs coach Gregg Popovich has anything to say about it.

“About two weeks ago, I sent him a picture when he was younger and he is dunking over somebody and his hair is flying all over, it was kind of a hint, like you know you can keep doing this sort of thing,” Popovich said. “And he sent me back a picture of my first year here as an assistant. I’m not sure what that meant, like, you are crazy, you are old, too.”

Ginobili, who turns 41 on July 28, is under contract for next season after signing a two-year, $5 million deal in August 2017.

While the Spurs and their fans would love for him to return for a 17th season, Ginobili has given no indication as to what he plans to do regarding his career. So far, his focus has been spending vacations this summer with his wife and three sons in Washington, D.C., and Vancouver.

“Manu is chasing bears up in the Northwest,” Popovich joked. “We could make his contract null and void because of the hang gliding, the bear chasing, and the zip lining stuff that he is doing up there. I sent an investigator to watch him and get it on film, because you’ve got to prove it in court, you got to get film on him.”

Spurs coach Gregg Popovich met with reporters on Wednesday to discuss the trade of Kawhi Leonard. In the deal, the Spurs received All-Star DeMar DeRozan from the Toronto Raptors. Popovich said he couldn't be happier with the addition.

After three years as a part-time employee covering mainly high school sports, Tom Orsborn became a full-time employee at the Express-News in October 1985. He's covered the Dallas Cowboys and the NFL since 1999 and has also covered the Spurs, the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea, and a variety of other events, including 14 Super Bowls.